A tether management system is disclosed. The tether management system includes a spool, a tension sensor, a controller and a moveable pulley. The spool is rotatable to reel in and reel out a tether. The tension sensor measures a tension of the tether. The controller receives a desired tension of the tether and controls the rotation of the spool to reel in and reel out the tether based on a difference between a measured tension from the tension sensor and the desired tension of the tether. The moveable pulley is disposed to engage tether between the spool and the tension sensor. The moveable pulley being able to be biased and moveable along a linear path to adjust a tension of the tether when the tension of the tether deviates from the desired tension. A method for managing tether is also disclosed.

A wiring structure (10) includes: a fixed member (14); a movable member (12) which moves rectilinearly with respect to the fixed member (14); a wire material (16) which connects the movable member (12) and the fixed member (14); a movable guide (18) over which the wire material (16) is stretched and which can move rectilinearly with respect to the fixed member (14); and a movement mechanism (20) which causes the movable guide (18) to move, in conjunction with the rectilinear movement of the movable member (12), rectilinearly in a direction in which the loosening or tightening of the wire material (16) caused by the rectilinear movement of the movable member (12) is offset.

A wiring structure (10) includes: a fixed member (14); a movable member (12) which moves rectilinearly with respect to the fixed member (14); a wire material (16) which connects the movable member (12) and the fixed member (14); a movable guide (18) over which the wire material (16) is stretched and which can move rectilinearly with respect to the fixed member (14); and a movement mechanism (20) which causes the movable guide (18) to move, in conjunction with the rectilinear movement of the movable member (12), rectilinearly in a direction in which the loosening or tightening of the wire material (16) caused by the rectilinear movement of the movable member (12) is offset.

A tensioning device for a wired energy or data transmission path includes a winding drum, a cable guide wire stored on the winding drum, and a spring accumulator. The winding drum is rotatable by an electrical drive for winding and unwinding the cable guide wire. The spring accumulator is operably exerting a resilient tensile force on a wire portion unreeled from the winding drum.

A wire rod disposing device includes: a wire rod delivering mechanism configured to deliver a wire rod from a nozzle at a predetermined speed; a movable stage serving as a member support part configured to support a base plate serving as a disposition target member such that the wire rod is routed after the wire rod is delivered from the nozzle and curved; and a tension application mechanism configured to apply tension to the wire rod, the wire rod being routed to the base plate by being delivered from the nozzle.

A cable tension control device includes a pair of first active rollers clamping a cable therebetween, a first driver driving the first active rollers, a pair of second active rollers clamping the cable therebetween at an upstream position from the first active rollers, a second driver driving the second active rollers, a floating roller arranged between the first active rollers and the second active rollers and exerting a pushing force on the cable, and an actuator driving the floating roller to move vertically to adjust the pushing force exerted on the cable. A tension force applied on the cable is controlled to be equal to a predetermined tension force by controlling the pushing force and by controlling a speed difference between a first speed at which the first active rollers convey the cable forward and a second speed at which the second active rollers convey the cable forward.

A cable tension control device includes a pair of first active rollers clamping a cable therebetween, a first driver driving the first active rollers, a pair of second active rollers clamping the cable therebetween at an upstream position from the first active rollers, a second driver driving the second active rollers, a floating roller arranged between the first active rollers and the second active rollers and exerting a pushing force on the cable, and an actuator driving the floating roller to move vertically to adjust the pushing force exerted on the cable. A tension force applied on the cable is controlled to be equal to a predetermined tension force by controlling the pushing force and by controlling a speed difference between a first speed at which the first active rollers convey the cable forward and a second speed at which the second active rollers convey the cable forward.

Systems and methods for winding wire are disclosed. A system includes a wire take-up unit and a wire tensioning unit. The take-up unit includes a rotating mandrel and a wire directing device, the wire directing device arranged to cause the wire to be wound in a figure-eight configuration on the rotating mandrel to form a coil having many layers of wire. The wire tensioning unit applies tension to said wire as it is wound, and applies a first amount of tension to a predetermined amount of wire constituting at least a first two layers of the coil, and a second amount of tension to the wire beyond the predetermined amount. In one embodiment, the wire tensioning unit includes digital self-relieving air regulator pneumatically coupled to and controlling a pressure in said pressurized chamber of a pre-lubricating cylinder that is coupled to the wire being wound.

Systems and methods for winding wire are disclosed. A system includes a wire take-up unit and a wire tensioning unit. The take-up unit includes a rotating mandrel and a wire directing device, the wire directing device arranged to cause the wire to be wound in a figure-eight configuration on the rotating mandrel to form a coil having many layers of wire. The wire tensioning unit applies tension to said wire as it is wound, and applies a first amount of tension to a predetermined amount of wire constituting at least a first two layers of the coil, and a second amount of tension to the wire beyond the predetermined amount. In one embodiment, the wire tensioning unit includes digital self-relieving air regulator pneumatically coupled to and controlling a pressure in said pressurized chamber of a pre-lubricating cylinder that is coupled to the wire being wound.

An optical fiber winding mechanism feeds an optical fiber from raw material bobbins and winds the optical fiber around a winding bobbin, and includes a first raw material bobbin-side unit to mount the first raw material bobbin thereon, a second raw material bobbin-side unit to mount the second raw material bobbin thereon, a winding bobbin-side unit to mount the winding bobbin thereon, and a controller to control each of the units. The first raw material bobbin-side unit includes a body device, a head capable of rotating with respect to the body device, a rotation assist device capable of engaging with the head, a rotation mechanism capable of rotating the body device around a Z direction, and a slide mechanism capable of moving the rotation mechanism.